TORONTO - A comedian facing a human rights tribunal hearing over lesbian jokes he cracked at several women who he says were heckling him has announced a benefit show to raise funds for his legal defence - and one of the confirmed acts is lesbian comic, Linda Ellis.

Toronto comedian Guy Earle was the MC at a Vancouver open-mic show in May 2007 when, he says, three lesbians began heckling him and other comedians. Earle said he fought back by trying to offend them with several nasty jokes.

One of the women, Lorna Pardy, filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, which ruled last month that it would hear the case.

Earle announced Tuesday that 40 comics will perform July 19 at The Comedy Bar in Toronto.

The comics "will hit the stage for one minute of raw, uncensored social commentary," said Earle. "Stand-up is the embodiment of free speech and this show personifies our right to speak while we still can."